Aces lose to Supersport in the Nedbank Cup

SuperSport United advanced to the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup after they beat Mpumalanga Black Aces 2-1 in a pulsating quarterfinal clash at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Friday night.

After Judas Moseamedi gave Aces an early lead, SuperSport’s Jeremy Brockie and Thuso Phala scored a goal each in the second half to secure their team’s passage into the last four of South Africa’s premier cup competition.

Aces made a bright start and opened the scoring in the fifth minute of the match. After Ronwen Williams parried Sibusiso Masina’s effort behind his post, Moseamedi headed in Clifford Ngobeni’s corner to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

The goal definitely woke SuperSport, who also had to come from behind in their previous match in the Nedbank Cup, from their slumber, and they started to attack Aces with a lot more vigour.

The home side had a great chance to score the equaliser in the 11th minute when Dove Wome found himself one-on-one with Aces goalkeeper Shu-Aib Walters. The Aces shot-stopper, though, showed all his experience and managed to avert the danger.

SuperSport captain Clayton Daniels then headed wide from a Thuso Phala corner in the 21st minute, before Phala’s dangerous delivery from a set-piece in first-half stoppage time was well dealt with by veteran Aces defender Bryce Moon.

However, it would be SuperSport’s halftime substitute, Brockie, who had a big influence on the match in the in the second half. The New Zealand striker’s first attempt at goal came in the 49th minute when he hit the Aces wall with a free kick.

Aces were looking for an outlet in the second half, but their main attacking weapon Collins Mbesuma had a bit of an off night. He should have done better with a chance in the 51st minute, which was eventually saved by Williams.

Wome went close for SuperSport just before the hour mark, when his shot was blocked by Moon. But the home side would eventually draw level in the 62nd minute, when Brockie equalised with a clinical header after a lovely floated cross into the box by Wome.

Ngobeni and Aubrey Modiba had two more shots at goal for Aces after Brockie’s equaliser, but could not covert their chances. And Phala would eventually make them pay for not scoring when he slotted the winner in the 89th minute with a deflected shot.